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Sexually Active Teens More Likely to Divorce in Later Life

Women who lose their virginity before the age of 16 are more likely to become divorced in later life according to research conducted by the University of Iowa. The study, undertaken by associate sociology professor Anthony Paik, examined the responses that 3,793 married and divorced woman had supplied during the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and revealed that 31 per cent of women that had their first sexual experience before the age of 18 divorced within five years of marriage whilst 47 per cent divorced within 10 years. In comparison, only 15 per cent of women who were 18 or over when they lost their virginity divorced within five years whilst 27 per cent divorced following 10 years. The research also showed, however, that the likelihood of a woman becoming divorced in later life was unaffected if their first sexual experience was entirely wanted and they were over 16. If sex took place before the woman was 16, then the increased chance of divorce still applied even if the experience was wanted. Of the women surveyed only one per cent stated that they were certain that they wanted to lose their virginity at 13 or younger, five per cent at the age of 14 or 15 and 10 per cent at age 16 or 17. Despite his findings, Paik proposes that sex itself does not increase the prospect of divorce stating that “The results are consistent with the argument that there are down sides to adolescent sexuality, including the increased likelihood of divorce. But there's also support for the "more sex positive" view, because if a teen delays sex to late adolescence and it is wanted, that choice in itself doesn't necessarily lead to increased risk of divorce”. Paik further theorised other explanations, suggesting that women who had sex as adolescents were predisposed to divorce. Paik also submitted a more casual explanation, positing that early sexual experiences could lead to individuals developing behaviour that was conducive to divorce. “'If the sex was not completely wanted or occurred in a traumatic context, it's easy to imagine how that could have a negative impact on how women might feel about relationships, or on relationship skills.”

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